Assigmffi of one-half to



(No Model.) I

M. WAGNER.

'THILL VGO'UPLING'L NOQZ'B'LSIZS. y Patented July 17,1883.

UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL WAGNER, or BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoE '0E ONE-HALE fro HENRY scHANUEL, E sAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,323, dated July 17, 1883,

Application filed May 10, 1883. A(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL WAGNER, of Belleville, Illinois, have made a new and useful Improvement in 'Ihill- Couplings, of which the following is a full, Clear, and exact description, reference'being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a top view of a thillcoupling having the improvement; Fig. 2, aside elevation, the thill being in position; Fig. 3, a similar elevation, the thill being turned up; and Fig. 4,' a section on the line 4 4, of Fig. 2.

The sameletters of reference denote the same parts.

The design of this improvement is twofoldto sustain the thill and to prevent it from ratl thill, and so as to bear upon the upper side of the thill-iron at the point of its connection with the clip, and thence extended downward through the opening between the inner end of the thill-iron and the axle, or that part of the clip which surrounds the axle end at its other -end,which is free to move, bearing upward against the lower part of the axle or the clip upon the axle-that is, the free end of the spring must not only be made to bear downward upon the thill-iron where it is jointed to the clip, but also be made to bear upward against the axle or clip at a point beyond the thill-iron joint.

The Inost desirable Inode of carrying out the improvement is shown in the drawings,where A represents the thill, B the thill-iron, C the axle, and D the clip, all of which parts are of the customary form. E represents the spring. At its forward end, e, it is fastened to the thill, and preferably with the clip F, for, by means of a fastening which surrounds the thill, the spring can be attached Without weakening the thill, and also the point of connection between the spring and the thill can be made adjustable longitudinally upon the thill, enabling the spring to be fastenedv -nearer to or farther from the axle, as desired.

'Io conne the spring more securely to the thill, the spring can be bent or shaped to form shoulders e e at each side of the clip F. The spring extends rearwardly, as shown, over the thill, bearing upon the thill iron in such manner as to prevent the iron from rattling, and after passing the thill-iron the spring extends downward through the opening G between the inner end of the thill-iron and the main part d of the Clip, and, after passing the opening G, the end cl of the spring is extendedso as to bear upward against the clip D. The end e2 of the springs is free, and as the thill vibrates in use it slips upon the clip D. The spring in practice can be readily formed from a flat strip of springy material--` such as steel-and when attached, as described, to an ordinary thill-coupling it assumes the shape shown in the drawings. The spring as thus attached is not only an excellent device for preventing rattling, but is also of material benefit in relieving the horse of the weight of the thill, and when the thills are not lin use the springs serve to uphold them, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring also serves to strengthen the thill.

A modification, but not desirable, of the improvement is fastening the end e2 of the spring to the axle or axle-clip and allowing the end c to slip through the clip F.

I claim- `l. The combination of the thill A, thill-iron B, the axle C, the clip D, and the spring E, said spring being attached at its forward end to the thill7 and, extending backward over the thill, bearing downward against the thill-iron, then passing the thill-iron, and its free end bearing upward against the axle or axle-clip, substantially as described.

2. A thill-coupling having a spring adapted to bear downward upon the thill-iron at its point of connection with the axle-clip, and to bear upward aga-inst the lower part of the axle or axle-clip.'

' MICHAEL WAGNER. Witnesses:

HUGO ROPIEGUET, M. F. SIEEERT. 

